Q: Is there anyway to copy a picture without having to upload the scans?

A: The only way to attach an image to a collection library data record is via the upload process. During that process you can upload an existing scan that you have on disk or scan one directly from your scanner.

There are ways you can "copy" another image from the web and save it to your computer. The first step is to gain the owners approval to use their scan(s). Once you have done that, you can usually use your web browser and right-mouse click on the scan. Select the [save picture as] from the list of menu choices that pops up. Once you have it saved to your computer, you still need to edit or add a data record to your collection library database and then attach that image via the upload process.

I don't allow users to direct link images to another site's images. One reason is the copyright issue and the other issue is that the original owner may delete or change the image thus breaking your site.

Q: If you see a chip that someone else has on their want list, have or trade list that you need also, how can you add that to your want list?

A: Each chip that you want displayed on your want list has to be manually added to your database. BUT the good news is this... If a user has already entered that chip within the database AND they entered the guide number along with the information then all of the work as been done for you! If you add a new data record and entered the guide number, the system does attempt to locate another record previously added with the same guide number. If another record has already been added to the system, the system will prepopulate your data entry screen with all of the values from that other existing data record.

For example, try to add a new chip record to your database. When that data entry screen pops up, click into the [Guide No] text box. Enter V4438 and press the [TAB] key. You'll notice that all of the fields were automatically entered for you.

Please Note: It is not pulling data from ALL of the different websites yet. But at least this shows you how it will work once it is fully implemented. It is grabbing all of the data from my site as a start but will branch out to the other sites eventually.

Now it would be cool if when it copied that data record from the other user if the system also copied the files scanned from their site to your site and automatically attached those copied images. I thought about having a "yes"/"no" question for each user asking if scans could be used for that purpose. If the user had indicated "yes", then the copy function would execute. By default, the answer would be "No" for all sites. Maybe one day I will implement that kind of feature. I'll add that to my list of requested features and maybe one day we'll have that out there!